Apparatus for loading vessels.



J. T. CLARK.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS.

APPLICATION I'ILED AUG. 9, 1910.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTUH John T ztlili,

WITNESSES W/ywfi J. T. CLARK.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 9, 1910.

Patented Jan. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOH. I Jbhn TCLmnn,

WITNESSES WAQ A JOHN T. oLanK, on NEW roan,

AZPPARATUS FOR LOADING VESSELS.

l,tll3,928.

Specification of Letters Patent Application filed August 9,

Patented Jan. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern.

-Be it known that l, JOHN citizen of the United States, r city of NewYork, borough county'and State of vented a certain new for LoadingVessels, is aspecification. i

' This invention is an aflltaratus' forhandling freight, and merchandisegenerally, and it is adapted, more particularly, for loading vessels. ii

The object of the invention to save labor in handling freight whenloading the same into a vessel, wl'icreby a vesselniay be loaded rapidlyand economically,

The invention embodies a nimi-bcr of dis tinctly novel features, some ofwhich are as follows: first, a car or cage provided with a movablemember, or a plurality of movable members,- whereby upon lowering thecar or cage to a predetermined position the movable member or memberswill be tilted for the purpose of automatically discharging the load;second, means for controlling the descent of a loaded car or cagewhereby the load may be prevented from dropping below the level of thedeck until the operator releases the controlling mechanism and said loadmay be arrested at any point in its descent for the purpose ofdischarging the load at a desired level; and, third, means whereby thecar or cage when unloaded will be lifted automatically to a point wherean- Qther load is to be deposited thereon.

In th accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodimentof the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understoodas illustrative only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. I

Figure l'is a view, partly in vertical section through a vessel, andpartly in side elevation, illustrating my loading apparatus in operativeposition over a hatch opening, the cage being shown in a raisedposition. Fig. 2 is a view similar-t0 Fig. 1 with the cage in the lowerposit-ion illustrating the operation of discharging a load from saidcage. Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the loading apparatus,.the cage beingin a raised position, said View illustrating said loading apparatus onan enlarged scale as compared l T. CLARK, a esiding in the oflilanhat-tan,

New York, have inand useful Apparatus of which the following a car orcage, 0, to pass with Figs. 1 and Fig. 4. is a front elevation of theapparatus shown in Fig. l, the counterweight being omitted. Fig. 5 is aplan viewof the apparatus shown in 3 and i In the practical embodimentof the intontion. shown in form, A

A, upon which is erectedv a supportframc, P, the latter consistingpneferably of inclined members, Z), and cross bars, 6. The platform maybe of any suitable construction, but it is provided with. an opening, a,the opposite side walls of which. are beveled as indicated at 0. in Figsaid opening, a, being of suilicient size to enable into said opening.The car IS shown as consisting of a skeleton be r frame, 0, upright sideframes, 0, and cross rails, 0 uniting the side frames. The bottom of thecar or cage is movable relative to the bottom frame, and in thecmltlodimcnt of the invention shown said movable bottom consists of twomovable members, C, C The inner edges of the movable members are adaptedto rest upon a supporting mil, attached to the bottom frame, but theopposite outer edges of members, C", 0 are hinged or pivoted in anysuitable way, as at 0, to the bottom frame. l l hen the ap aratus is tobe used for loading barrels or caslrs, it is preferred to sin-- ploymembers, C, G which are curved on their upper sides whereby the bar 'elsor caslrs will become seated upon the members in a way to be retainedagainstmovcment relative to the car when the latter is lowered in a"vessel. Obviously the particular form of the members, C, C is not anessential feature. Asthe car reaches the limit of its lower movement themen1bers,;C',C are lifted so as to assume the oppositely inclinedpositions shown more clearly in r Fig. 2, whereby the load willbe'discharged automatically from the car a .d at the respective sidesthereof. The elevaiilon of the movable bottom members is effected bymeans of legs, C which'are attached to said bottom members at the inneredges thereof, said legs depending below the skeleton. frame of the carso that the legs bottom of the vessels ject in the path of car reachesthe hull or against an obthe car, whereby as the limit of its downwardmovethe drawings, I employ a platwill strike against the i ment the legswill operate to elevate the i1:- ner edges of the hinged members andthus discharge the load from the car.

The cage or. car is suspended flexibly from a suitable hoistingmeclmnism by means of cables, D. The cables are fastened to the crossrails, 0 of the cage so that said cables will diverge when the cagelowered, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of suspending the cage in amanner to preclude any displacement of the load upon said cage duringthe lowering operation. The suspending cables are separately coiled onwinding drums, E, which are fast with a horizontal shaft, F. Said shaftis journaled in suitable bearings, f, attached to frame, B, for theshaft to occupy a position above platform, A. The winding drums aresuitably spaced on shaft, F, for suspending cables, D, to be coiled uponsaid drums, whereby the drums are adapted for rotation with the shaft soas to coil the cables on the drums and elevate the car, or to nncoilsaid cables from the said drums and lower the car.

For the purpose of controlling rotation of shaft, F, and drums, E, underthe weight of the load imposed upon the car, and to retain said car in astationary raised position during the operation of depositing a load.upon said car. ere is employed a suitable form of brake .nechanism whichcooperates with the shaft. Said brake mechanism is shown as consistingof brake drums, G, G, brake bands, H, H, and a brake shaft, I. Saidbrake shaft is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings, 2', attachedto cross rail 1) of frame B. The shaft is provided at its ends withcranks, z", to which are fastened one end of brake bands, H, H, theother ends of said brake bands being secured at h to cross rail, I), seeFig. The brake shaft is provided with the rcarwardly extending arm, j,carrying a weight, J, which operates to turn shaft, I, in a direction toforcibly apply the brake bands to brake drums, G, G, whereby shaft, F,is held from rotation. An attendant stationed at the hoisting mecha nismis able to operate the brake mechanism for the purpose of allowing thecage or car to have vertical movement, said operating means being shownas a lever, K, fastened to the rock shaft. It will be understood thatthe lever may be depressed for the purpose of turning the rock shaftagainst the action of weight, J, and when so operated the rock shaftwill release the brake bands from the brake drums, thus allowing shaft,F, and drums, E, to rotate freely.

L, designates a counterweight adapted .to elevate the cage or carautomatically when a load is discharged therefrom, the weight of saidcou;-.erweight exceeding the weight of the car when the latter is freefrom a load. As shown, the counterweight is provided with a sheave, Z,which is positioned to ride within a bight or loop of a cable L. One endof said cable, L, is anchored in a suitable way to a part of astationary frame, B, as for example by wrapping it around a cleat, Z,see Fig. The other part of the cable is coiled upon a counterweightdrum, M, fixed to shaft, F, forrotation therewith, but saidcounterweight cable, L, is coiled on its drum in an opposite directionto that in which the suspended cables, D, are coiled upon, drums, E,whereby the counterweight, L, is adapted to descend by uncoiling thecable, L, frdm drum, M, simultaneously with the operation of elevatingthe cage or car by coiling the suspending. cables upon the drums, E.

N, designates a runway or skid adapted to be positioned inoperativerelation to plat form, A, of the loading apparatus. This runway or skidis adapted to lie in a substantially fiush relation with the bottomframe, 0, and one of the bottom members,

C of the cage when the latter occupies a raised position within theplatform, A, whereby the load may be rolled from skid,

N, upon the bottom member or members of the car.

For the purpose of'precluding the casks, barrels,; or other load fromrolling into a loading position below the hoisting mechanism when thecage is lowered within the vessel, I employ suitable means, forintercepting the movement of the barrels, etc. As shown, said means isembodied in a bar, 0, adapted to extend across the frame of the hoistingmechanism and to lie in the path of the barrels. Said stop-bar, O, ispivoted by a bolt, 0, to one of the said frames, 7), but the other endof said stop bar is retained in position by a keeper, 0 fastened to theother side frame, see Figs. 3 and 4.

The operation may be described as follows: \Vith the car in a raisedposition, as shown in Fig. 3, it occupies a compact relation withrespect to the hoisting mechanism and platform, A, the bottom members,C,-,'

C being in substantially the horizontal plane of the runway or skid, N.The (301111? tel-weight is lowered and the brake is applied during theoperation of loading the car. Before rolling the casks or barrels uponthe car, the operator lifts stop bar, 0, and then proceeds to roll onecask or barrel across bottom member, C", so that it will rest uponbottom member, C, and afterward rolls another cask into position uponbottom member, C", whereby the car is loaded with two tasks, although.it is evi-- dent that the car ma ybe constructed to carry more than twocasks. The stop bar 18 again lowered and lever, K, is operated torelease the brakes from the brake-drums, whereupon the weight of theload on the car overcomes the gravity of counterweight, L, and theloaded car descends into the hold of a vessel The operator is able tocontrol the descent of the loaded car by regulating the brakemechanism,but as the car reaches the limit its lower movement the legs,C come in contact with the bottom of the hull, or with an obstruction inthe path of the car, whereby the bottom members, C, C will be raised tothe inclined positions shown in Fig. 2 and automaticallydischarge theload from the'car. The counterweight, L, operates to automaticallyreturn the car to a raised position, the brake mechanism beingunapplied. With the car in a raised position the operationsheretoforedescribed are repeated.

In Fig l of the drawings 1 have shown the loading apparatus inoperativeposition upon a vessel, the hold of which is to be filled with barrels,casl's or other merchandise. The apparatus operates automatically todischarge the load into the hold at any point for the reason that as thehold becomes filled with freight, the legs, C, of the car will. contactwith the upper layer of barrels or other freight so as to automaticallydischarge the load from the car at different levels. It evident,however, that the loading apparatus may be used in connection withvessels having decks as indicated in F 2, and in such event suitableprovision is made for operating the bottom members of the cage so as toautomatically discharge the load upon the bottom of the hull or ateither of the decks of the vessel. In another application, Serial Number576,352, filed by me on even date herewith, I have disclosed elevatorwherein a cage is confined for vertical movement within suitable guides,said vertical movement of the cage in upward direction being eliected bya counterweight and the descent of the loaded cage being controlled by abrake mechanism. Accordingly, no claim ismade in this ap ication to theaforesaid subject matter, c aracteristic feature of the presentinvention a portable apparatus adapted to be post oned over the hatchwayof a vessel, said apparatus employing cables adapted to suspend a loadcarrier for swayingmovement within the hold of a vessel.

Having thus fully described the invention, what l. claim as new, anddesire to re cure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adaptedto be positioned at the hatchway of a vessel, hoisting mechanism carriedby the frame, a suspended by said hoisting mechanism, said cage; beingprovided with a movable load a cage, a plurality of movableme rs car-'ried thereby, means cooperating with the respective movable members fort 'ng said movable members in oppositely inclined di rections, and meansfor controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

, In an apparatus for loading inercham disc into vessels, a portableframe adapted. to be positioned upon the deck of I a vessel and over ahatchway therein, hoisting mechanism carried by the frame, a cagesuspended by said. hoisting mechanism for movement within the hold of avessel, said cage being provided with a plurality of load platforms,

-means for operating said load platforms r as to move them lntooppositely inclined pe sitions upon the descent of the cage to apredetermined posit-ion into the hold of a vessel, a counterweight forautomatically elevating the cage when unloaded, means for controllingthe movement of said cage.

at. In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, a plurality ofmovable members carried thereby, said movable members being independentof each other, means for operating said members whereby the loads thereon will be discharged simultaneously in up posite directions from thecage, and means,

for controlling the vertical movement of said cage.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, a plurality ofmovable members carried thereby, means for operating said memberswhereby the members will be inclined in oppositedirections to each otherfor auto matically discharging the load from the respective sides of thecage, and means for controlling the vertical movement of the cage.

6. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adaptedto be positioned upon the deck of a vessel and over the hatchwaytherein, hoisting cables, means carried by the frame for winding andunwinding said hoisting cables, a cage suspended by the hoisting cablesfor movement within a hold of a vessel, said cage being movable intosubstantially flush relation to a base of said frame when in a raisedloath ing position, and said cage being retained in a stationary loadingposition by contact with said frame, and means for controlling thevertical movement of the cage.

7. In an apparatus of th class d a cage, means for lowerin ralityotdisconnected mot carried by the cage, and

said movable platforms and in opposite directions to each other when thecage is lowered a predetermined distance, whereby the loads areautomatically discharged at the respective sides of the cage. V

8. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adaptedto be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoisting mechanismincluding a plurality of cables supported by said frame, a cagesuspended by the cables for swaying movementwithin the hold of a vessel,said cage being retained in a stationary loading position by engagementwith the frame, and means for controlling the vertical movement of saidcage.

9. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frame adaptedto be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoist ing mechanismcarried by said frame, a cage suspended by the hoisting m chanism formovement within the hold of a vessel, the upward movement of said cagebeing arrested by the frame and said cage being retained by engagementwith the frame in a stationary loading position, substantially flushwith the base of said frame, and means for controlling the verticalmovement of the cage.

10. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frameadapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, said framehaving a cage-receiving opening in the base thereof, hoisting mechanismcarried by said frame, a cage suspended by the hoisting mechanism formovement within the hold of a vessel, said cage entering the opening inthe base of the frame and adapt ed to be retained by engagement with thebase of the frame in a stationary loading position relative to saidframe and the hatchway of the vessel, and means for controlling thevertical movement of the cage.

11. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frameadapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoistingmechanism carried by the frame, said hoisting mechanism including aplurality of cables, a cage suspended by the cables for movement withinthe hold of a vessel, said cage being free to swing within the vesselshold, means for retaining the cage in fixed relation to the frame whensaid cage is elevated to a loading position, and means for controllingthe vertical movement of the cage.

12. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frameadapted to be positioned across the hatchway ofa vessel, a shaft carriedby said frame, a plurality of winding drums carried by the shaft, acage, cables attached to the cage and wound separately on said drums,brake drums fast with said shaft, expansible brake bands cooperatingwith the brake drums, a brake shaft to which the brake bands areattached, means whereby the brake bands are normally applied to thebrake drums, and means for op crating the brake shaft.

13. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frameadapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, a shaftcarried by said frame, a plurality of winding drums carried by theshaft, a cage adapted to be lowered into the hold of a vessel, cablesattached to the cage and wound separately on said drums, means operableat will for controlling the rotation of the shaft, a counterweight drum,a counterweight cable coiled on said drum, and a counterweight suspendedby the cable and adapted to elevate the cage, when a load is dischargedtherefrom into the hold of a vessel.

14. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frameadapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, a shaftcarried by said frame, a plurality of winding drums rotatable with theshaft, a plurality of cables each adapted to be wound upon or unwoundfrom one of said drums, a cage suspended in an operative position by theplurality of cables, said cage being free to sway within the hold of avessel and to be moved up and down therein by the action of the drumsand cables, a separate drum rotatable with the shaft, a cable providedwith a counterbalance and coiled upon the separate drum forautomatically lifting the cage when a load is discharged therefrom, anda separate brake mechanism for controlling the rotation of the shaft andthe up and down movements of the cage within the vessels hold. r

15. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a frameadapted to be positioned across the hatchway of a vessel, hoistingmechanism carried by said frame, said hoisting mechanism including aplu-. rality of cables, a cage suspended in operative position by saidplurality of cables, said cage being free to sway and to move verticallywithin the hold of a vessel, a countel-balance for automatically liftingthe cage when the load is discharged therefrom, and brake mechanism forcontrolling the up and down movements of the cage within the vesselshold.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, the bottom of whichis formed of members each pivoted to the cage at one edge of saidmember, and means on said pivoted members for tilting the same intopositions inclined reversely to each other, whereby the loads may bedischarged from the cagein opposite directions.

17. In an apparatus for loading merchandise into vessels, a cage thebottom of which is formed by members pivoted at their outer edges to thecage for movement in oppositely In testimony whereof I have signed myinclined positlons, a rail fixed to the cage name to this specificationin the presence of and upon which the pivoted members are twosubscribing Witnesses.

supported, and a depending member on each JOHN T. CLARK. 5 of thepivoted members for tilting the latter 'Witnesses:

and discharging the component parts of a WESTMINSTER ABBEY,

load from thecage in opposite directions. EDGAR C. LE BLANC.

